Work to Address Rapid ‘Ōhi‘a Death at Kalōpā on Hawai‘i Island

Work begins next week to fell and remove several ‘ohi’a trees at the Kalōpā State Recreation Area on the Big Island that show symptoms of the fungal disease known as Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death.

The detection of the disease was made in July utilizing digital mobile sketch mapping, an aerial mapping technique used quarterly on all islands to check for the spread of the fungal disease.

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Crews will use a lift to remove infected and dead trees from Kalōpā and may bring down trees in other areas. They’ll be installing boot-brush stations at trailheads in the state recreation area. These stations have brushes and isopropyl alcohol (70%) to use on footwear to help prevent the spread of the disease.

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The disease has impacted an estimated 135,000 acres of forest on Hawai‘i island and a less virulent strain has been detected in an isolated area on Kaua‘i.

The Kalōpā detection is roughly 12 miles from the previously known occurrence of the fungus on the Hamakua Coast on the Big Island’s east side.